Inside Politics: New book says Obama hoped for bin Laden trial

A new book says President Obama hoped to put Osama bin Laden on trial if he surrendered during a U.S. raid.

In a book on the raid that killed bin Laden, author Mark Bowden quotes Mr. Obama as saying he thought he could make a strong political argument for giving bin Laden the full rights of a criminal defendant, to show U.S. justice applies even to him. In the book, purchased by The Associated Press, Mr. Bowden writes that Mr. Obama said he expected the terrorist leader to go down fighting.

“The Finish” is scheduled for release Oct. 16.

Mr. Obama’s remark is the first time he has revealed his thoughts about putting the terrorist on trial.

U.S. officials have said the raiders were ordered to capture bin Laden if he surrendered, or kill if he threatened them.

WEST VIRGINIA

Roseanne Barr, Santa Claus on state’s presidential ballot

CHARLESTON | Actress-comedian Roseanne Barr, Santa Claus and former Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia are among more than two dozen write-in presidential candidates certified for West Virginia’s ballot.

But a Texas inmate who attracted nearly 41 percent of the vote against President Obama in the Democratic primary won’t be on the general election ballot.

The Charleston Gazette reported that Keith Judd requested to be placed on the ballot, but the secretary of state’s office’s response telling Judd what he had to do to be certified was dated Sept. 17, one day before the deadline for write-in candidates to be certified.

Santa Claus is a Nevada man known as Thomas O’Connor until he legally changed his name in 2005. He also was a write-in candidate in 2008.